Meetings
Meetings are subject to change so it is best to check this website for updates.
Meetings are subject to change so it is best to check this website for updates.
Sunday, June 8, 2025 1:00PM
Explore how to locate an ancestor's "original" name via records research using ship manifests, naturalization documents, and gravestones. Michael will also review the traditions of Jewish naming practices, how names changed when coming to English-speaking lands (the "Ellis Island myth" ) and recognizing Eastern European surnames based on countries of origin.
Speaker: With over two decades of genealogy experience, Michael Moritz has researched for hundreds of individuals, with ancestries in over 35 countries and records in 10-plus languages. His research has been featured on the PBS show, Finding Your Roots and was cited in The New York Times. Michael specializes in United States and European Research and is the Director of JewishGen's Romania Research Division. He is a frequent contributor to the Jewishgen Germany Research Division, and he has volunteered by transcribing thousands of vital records for those groups as well. Michael also moderates groups for those with Jewish ancestry from Hamburg, Germany and Iasi, Romania.
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